Despite the turmoil that has followed the 2024 release of “It Ends With Us,” the third major film directed by “Jane the Virgin” star Justin Baldoni, he doesn’t need to worry about a lack of A-list support for one of his production company’s upcoming films. That’s because a Grammy-winning superstar and a “Grey’s Anatomy” favorite appear to have his back.
Baldoni co-owns the independent production company Wayfarer, which he founded with Steve Sarowitz in 2014. In March 2026, Deadline reported “Grey’s Anatomy” star Jesse Williams has signed on as an executive producer of the film “Black is Beautiful,” which Wayfarer is collaborating on with Misfits Entertainment and Mediawan. The film covers the life of photographer Kwame Brathwaite, who famously photographed the Jackson 5 among many other stars.
Wayfarer celebrated the news on their Instagram page, writing, “We are excited to announce Jesse Williams as an Executive Producer on Black Is Beautiful: The Kwame Brathwaite Story!
Actor. Activist. Entrepreneur. And now, Executive Producer. We’re thrilled to have him on board, shining a light on the impact of Kwame Brathwaite and the Black is Beautiful movement.”
GettyWilliams is joined in the EP role by 17-time Grammy winner Alicia Keys and her husband, Swizz Beatz. Their involvement was announced 6 days before the news hit that Williams had signed on.
The film has already been completed, but has not yet been widely distributed. However, it has made strong impressions of the festival circuit, starting with its October 2025 premiere at the BFI London Film Festival.
Jesse Williams Previously Discussed His Black Identity: ‘Blackness Isn’t a Performance’
In a 2025 Madame Noir interview, the “Grey’s Anatomy” heartthrob, who plays Dr. Jackson Avery on the long running drama, talked about his role in the Prime action series “Hotel Costiera” and how he uses his platform to push for honest representations of black life. He said, “I think for me, I was looking to do something to get out of the country. Outside We exist outside of America. You know?”
He went on, “And that’s seems like a simple statement, but we’re always told that we don’t.” He also suggested the “lighthearted” project was essential for the “pursuit of balance and harmony in my life.”
He also talked about how the project showcases a variety of black characters born and raised in Europe.
Justin Baldoni Former Costar Warmly Praised Him as ‘A Wonderful Human Being’
In a TikTok comment which was screenshotted by a Reddit user, actress Shelly Bhalla, who worked with Baldoni on “Jane the Virgin,” defended him. Bhalla, who played the recurring character of Petra’s assistant Krishna, wrote, “I worked with him for multiple seasons/years. He’s a GEM of a human being. Amazing parents, wife and family. He’s a genuine, wonderful human being.”
Baldoni has been fighting to clear his name since being sued by his “It Ends With Us” co-producer and costar Blake Lively, who accused him of scheming to harm her reputation. Baldoni responded with a countersuit vehemently denying any wrongdoing, and said Lively systematically pushed him and his studio out of the blockbuster project using “threats and extortion” and “calculatingly devised” false stories.
He says Lively’s accusations against him were in retaliation for his and Wayfarer’s refusal to release a statement taking the blame for the backlash Lively faced after her poorly received promotional choices around the film, such as focusing on her alcohol and haircare brands instead of the movie’s serious subject matter. Lively and Baldoni promoted the film separately, which Baldoni says was Lively’s decision. Lively’s reputation was also hurt by the release of a viral awkward interview segment in which the “Gossip Girl” star appears to snipe at journalist Kjersti Flaa after the reporter congratulated her on her pregnancy before pointedly ingoring her for the remainer of the interview. Baldoni says he had nothing to do with the release of the video, which was posted by Flaa on her YouTube channel.
In his filings, Baldoni said he never wished to publicly hash out his and Lively’s onset clashes, and he was complimentary of her in an interview with Extra at the premiere. He said, “I’m grateful to Blake for just being a powerhouse of a performer, and an amazing collaborator.”
